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SUNRISE, Fla. — After being on the front lines for the battle between the NHL and the NHL Players’ Association, George Parros is happy to be on the fourth line with the Florida Panthers.

Signed as a UFA by the Panthers in the off-season, Parros, 33, who was on the union’s bargaining committee and sat in on several meetings, admitted Thursday he wondered if there was going to be any hockey at all this season.

“Certainly there was (times he didn’t think they’d play),” said Parros. “There was a lot of times I thought we were wasting our time and we weren’t getting anywhere. There was little and long stretches of times where it was pretty discouraging.

“It wasn’t what we would have hoped for, but we’re back on the ice anyway.”

Part of the inner circle with NHLPA executive director Donald Fehr and many of the players that regularly attended the sessions, Parros said several bargaining sessions were pointless.

“There were a lot of days spent having philosophical discussions on where the game was,” said Parros. “There were plenty of times where I flew across the country for meetings that didn’t have to take place because nothing was really accomplished. That was the frustrating part.”

Parros felt NHL commissioner Gary Bettman’s plan was to try to hurt the union financially and force the players to give in long before the lockout stretched into mid-January.

“It was certainly the NHL’s plan to do a lockout first and squeeze us a little bit,” said Parros. “That was their option of first resort. I don’t think their plan all along was to take it this far. I think their plan was to lock us out, show some pressure and we’d cave well before this time.

“They were willing to push us the distance and we found out what their threshold was and got things done at the end.”

He said the players’ resolve forced Bettman to make a deal to save the season earlier this month.

“It was just a time issue for the NHL. They had a timeline that they knew they had to get something done by,” said Parros. “Their plan all along was to lock us out, make us feel pressure and hope that we’d cave before that timeline. At the end of the day, they weren’t willing to lose the season and we just found that point (where the NHL wanted to play).”

The players are happy to see full buildings and record TV ratings in the first week.

“It’s unfortunate the lockout happened, but the fact there was so much outcry just shows the passion of the fans,” said Parros. “We’re happy to have them back. We’re glad the game hasn’t taken a total hit to the chin.

“Maybe it will going forward, but the signs are good early on that we’ve rebounded. I hope they forgive us. It’s hard to forget. We’re just happy to be back playing.”

SUNRISE, Fla. — After being on the front lines for the battle between the NHL and the NHL Players’ Association, George Parros is happy to be on the fourth line with the Florida Panthers.

Signed as a UFA by the Panthers in the off-season, Parros, 33, who was on the union’s bargaining committee and sat in on several meetings, admitted Thursday he wondered if there was going to be any hockey at all this season.

“Certainly there was (times he didn’t think they’d play),” said Parros. “There was a lot of times I thought we were wasting our time and we weren’t getting anywhere. There was little and long stretches of times where it was pretty discouraging.

“It wasn’t what we would have hoped for, but we’re back on the ice anyway.”

Part of the inner circle with NHLPA executive director Donald Fehr and many of the players that regularly attended the sessions, Parros said several bargaining sessions were pointless.